RPI WATCH: 2/21/2011

Sunday night, it looked as if Duke would succumb to the same upset flu that previously infected Kansas, Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Texas last week.

The Blue Devils trailed the visiting Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, who spent the first part of the game out-hustling and out-muscling the home team.

And then an unwise Yellow Jacket got into a shoving match with Tyler Thornton and essentially threw an elbow at him.

But Thornton was called for the foul. And Mike Kryzezewski sailed into the stratosphere.

Cue technical foul. Cue 54-22 Duke run. Cue righteous ass-kicking.

And now Duke is No. 1, where one could argue it rightfully belongs.

After all, when faced with an Octagon of Doom-esque atmosphere last November, the Dookies did not melt down and lose all composure like a certain other team that shall remain nameless.

Also Sunday, our non-conference opponents from the Sunshine State delivered a double bonus, with Florida winning at LSU and North Florida surviving a three-overtime thriller at home.

Hence, one-point boosts to both RPI and SOS.

Overall Record = 18-9

Big 12 Record = 6-6

RPI = 30

SOS = 10

Signature Wins (RPI 1-30) = Kansas

Quality Wins (RPI 31-100) = James Madison, Virginia Tech, Gonzaga, Washington State, Baylor, Nebraska

Bad Losses (RPI 101 or greater) = none

• James Madison (20-9, 9-7 CAA) | RPI = 76
  
• Virginia Tech (17-8, 7-5 ACC) | RPI = 65
  
• Presbyterian (12-17, 6-10 Big South) | RPI = 206
  
• Gonzaga (19-9, 9-3 WCC) | RPI = 71
  
• No. 5 Duke (25-2, 12-1 ACC) | RPI = 6: Win over Georgia Tech (79-57)
  
• Texas Southern (14-10, 12-1 SWAC) | RPI = 176
  
• Emporia State (13-13, 10-10 MIAA*)
  
• Washington State (17-10, 7-8 Pac-10) | RPI = 81
  
• Alcorn State (3-22, 3-12 SWAC) | RPI = 339
  
• Loyola-Chicago (15-13, 6-10 Horizon League) | RPI = 213
  
• No. 14 Florida (21-5, 10-2 SEC) | RPI = 13: Win at LSU (68-61)
  
• UNLV (20-7, 8-5 Mountain West) | RPI = 26
  
• UMKC (16-11, 9-7 Summit League) | RPI = 197
  
• North Florida (11-18, 8-10 Atlantic Sun) | RPI = 177: Win over Kennesaw State (90-88 in triple overtime)
  
• Savannah State (9-18) | RPI = 262
  
• Oklahoma State (16-10, 4-8 Big 12) | RPI = 59
  
• Colorado (16-11, 5-7 Big 12) | RPI = 93
  
• Texas Tech (12-15, 4-8 Big 12) | RPI = 139
  
• No. 20 Missouri (21-6, 7-5 Big 12) | RPI = 29
  
• No. 21 Texas A&M (21-5, 8-4 Big 12) | RPI = 27
  
• Baylor (17-9, 6-6 Big 12) | RPI = 79
  
• No. 1 Kansas (25-2, 10-2 Big 12) | RPI = 1
  
• Nebraska (18-8, 6-6 Big 12) | RPI = 63
  
• Iowa State (14-13, 1-11 Big 12) | RPI = 146
  
• Oklahoma (12-14, 4-8 Big 12) | RPI = 131
  
• No. 3 Texas (23-4, 11-1 Big 12) | RPI = 8
  

*Division II